Geranium plant named `Flame Delight`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, &#34;Flame Delight&#34; characterized by its cascading growth habit; its medium to large sized medium green foliage with little zoning, its abundant flowers and, its double, bright scarlet colored flowers and its heat tolerance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name"Flame Delight" relates to a new and distinct geranium plant. "FlameDelight" is a new and improved plant resulting from a planned breedingprogram as performed by me in my greenhouse at 821 Walnut Street,Batavia, Ill. My breeding program began in March 1977, and has beenongoing since that time. This seedling was initially identified by myrecords as 80×064F, and was the result of a cross between DeaconFireball, an unpatented floribunda Geranium as the seed parent crossedwith Bonita, an unpatented cascade Geranium as the pollen parent. Beinga cross between two market class zonal geranium plants, it is believedthat the botanical classification Pelargonium×hortorum would beappropriate for this plant.

Upon recognition of the outstanding characteristics of this plant, itwas selected from the progeny of the stated cross, and was set aside forfurther observation, testing, and was subsequently named "FlameDelight." Axexual reproduction of "Flame Delight" has been repeatedlyaccomplished by the rooting of vegetative cuttings in my greenhouse inBatavia, Ill. Examination of the plants so propagated through a seriesof propagations has demonstrated that the combination of characteristicsherein disclosed for "Flame Delight" are firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations through asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinguishing characteristics of "Flame Delight" resideprimarily in its cascading growth habit, its medium to large-sized,medium green foliage with inconspicuous zonation and its abundantblooming habit. This plant also has double, large-sized clear scarletcolored flowers and unusually high heat tolerance. This plant might beseen as a novel and desirable introduction within the industry by acombination of desired traits including:

Being particularly adapted to culture in hanging baskets due to itscascading habit, tendency to prolifically branch, and dense leafycanopy. Forming a dense plant mass completely hiding the top of a basketin about 10 weeks from four plantlets, and a thick plant mass which iswider than it is tall and of mounded form.

Having a generous amount of matt foliage, with medium green colorationwith inconspicuous zonation over the leaves of medium to large size andof higher than normal density.

Presenting a large number of well filled umbels of varied states ofmaturity placed well above the foliage mass, and having a pleasinglyclear scarlet floret coloration which is attractively, contrastinglyhigh-lighted over and against the medium green foliage.

Having a large number of umbels with a generous number of open doublepetal florets of medium to large size and appearance, borne on pedicelswhich present florets in a tightly condensed arrangement to form umbelshaving a fairly tightly compacted and mounded shape.

Presenting a large number of umbels which also vary in stage of maturitywhich gives the plant an attractive appearance for an extended period oftime rather than being one which blooms in discontinuous flushes.

The color definitions to follow have been taken from The RoyalHorticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,where presented by the letters RHS followed by a color groupingindication, the number indicating the color patch and the letterindicating the shade, except where color definitions in general terms ofordinary meaning are presented. Plant descriptions were made fromspecimens grown under greenhouse conditions during daylight hours inBatavia, Ill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The photograph depicts a market unit made up of four market stagespecimens of the plant growing in a 10 inch hanging planter, in a stageof inflorescence. The assemblage is shown in side view, depicting thecharacteristics of branching, leaves, leaf density, leaf coloration andzonation, the number and varied stages of buds and flowers, and thepositioning of the flower heads relative to the mass of the plants inthe hanging basket.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Market:

Class.--Cascading zonal geranium suitable for planting in hangingbaskets.

Name.--"Flame Delight."

Growth: "Flame Delight" is an exceptionally prolific blooming Geranium.The flowers are double and the flower head or truss is of medium tolarge size and quite resistant to shattering. The growth is generallyprocumbent in attitude which gives it a cascading effect.

Rate.--Rapid, producing a typical 10 inch flowering basket in about 10to 12 weeks from four 21/4 inch plantlets using standard commercialculture. This plant has exceptional vigor under normal conditions.

Blooming habit: Exceptionally profuse and continuously blooming plantthroughout the year, outdoors during the frost-free period, or in thegreenhouse; a mature 10 inch hanging basket commonly producing a rangeof 12 to 22 flower heads at one time, in varying stages of maturity.

INFLORESCENCE

Flower heads:

Size.--21/4 to 37/8 inches across when the florets are fully open.

Count.--15 to 25 presented at one time.

Truss:

Size.--Medium to large; ranges from about 3 to 33/4 inches in diameter.

Shape.--Somewhat tight, a flattened globe as it opens.

Number of florets.--Variable, range of from about 15 to 25, average 18to 20.

Lasting quality.--Average. Blooms remain 5 to 10 days and may lastlonger in cool, dry weather.

Buds:

Sepals.--Shape -- Long, slender and pointed. Color -- Same as leaves.

Color.--Red Group RHS 5 2 B.

Form.--Fat and round with a slight point.

Florets:

Number.15 to 25.

Form.--Flat to cupped.

Size.--Ranging from 11/2 to 13/4 inches across an open floret.

Petals:

Number.--About 8 to 12.

Size.--Ranging from about 9/16 to 11/16 inches long to about 11/16 to13/16 inches wide.

Texture.--Soft.

Appearance.--Clear.

Petaloids:

Number.--About 6 to 10.

Shape.--Variable, often misshapen.

Color.--Similar to that of the petals.

Size.--About 5/16 to 7/16 inches long and 9/16 to 11/16 inches wide.

Sepals:

Number.--Usually 5.

Color.--About like that of the leaves.

Pedicel:

Length.--About 5/16 to 1 1/16 inch.

Color.--RHS Greyed Purple, 185 A.

Peduncle:

Arises.--From node, opposed to leaf petiole.

Pubescence.--Normal.

Color.--RHS Yellow Green 144A.

Reproductive Organs

Androecium:

Stamens.--Number -- 5 to 7. Shape -- Ribbon-like filaments jointed atbases. Color -- Rose purple. Anther attachment -- Versatile.

Anthers.--Number -- 5 to 7. Shape -- Normal, well developed. Color --Purple.

Gynoecium:

Pistil.--Number -- One, compound. Length -- About within the range of3/32 to 5/32 inches.

Stigma.--Color -- Purple.

Style.--Color -- Green.

Ovary.--Size -- Within 1/32 to 1/16 inches long.

Fertility: Normal, viable seed is produced sparsely.

Behavior: Once the plant begins to bloom, it has an exceptionallyprofilic blooming habit and yields a striking display of medium tolarge-sized double clear scarlet flowers against its medium greenfoliage without zoning.

General observations: Inflorescence is of medium to large size withrather tight heads borne against the medium foliage of the plant andgenerally rounded in shape and measure up to about 3 inches across. Highfloret, petal and petaloid counts make umbels appear as dense balls atoptimum stage of opening. Flowers have very high tolerance to heat whencompared to those of other varieties.

STEM

Thickness: Medium slim.

Internodes: Short.

Branching: Free breaking.

Attitude: Procumbent habit.

FOLIAGE

Leaves:

Quantity.--Abundant.

Shape.--Reniform.

Size.--Largest leaves range from about 13/4 to about 33/4 inches wide.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Matt, lightly pubescent.

Coloration.--Leaves a medium green tone as normally seen in Geraniumsper se RHS Green Group 137B, with narrow zone of slightly darker greenhue RHS Green Group 138B. Zonation is centrally located on the leafsurfaces, and concentric to the point of petiole attachment and withgreen surface portions both inside and outside the zonal band.

Petioles:

Texture.--Lightly pubescent.

Length.--About 11/4 to 25/8 inches.

Color.--Yellow Green Group RHS 146B.

"Flame Delight" is comparable to "Midnight Blush" with which it sharesmarket class, but is easily distinguishable therefrom in terms of flowercolor; "Midnight Blush" having salmon petal coloration, while the petalsof "Flame Delight" are more scarlet; and by vigor, "Midnight Blush"being much more vigorous. "Flame Delight" is readily distinguished from"Midnight Rose" by having florets which are much more double, and ofmuch brighter coloration and by having a leaf attitude which moreclosely follows the shape of the plant mass and by having little leafzonation.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantiallyas shown and described, characterized by its cascading growth habit; itsmedium to large-sized, medium green foliage; its abundant bloominghabit; its bright scarlet colored flowers and its heat tolerance.